Sweater progress

As predicted not a lot of knitting got done this weekend! The conference was super! So many great talks and getting to be around people who love what I do too! The hard part is that there were 5 special sessions in Topology at the same time! Not very often that you have to choose between so many great talks! (and I'm a little behind on my sleep)
During the conference I saw an albino squirrel! I'm sorry I didn't have my camera to share it with you, maybe I'll see him (or her) again--not quite what you expect to see every day!

So how about the sweater! So it's coming along nicely. I've done all the decreases for the armholes (see how nice they look--I'm rather proud!)

Now about 8 inches and I can do the neck shaping! (the pattern doesn't make sense to me for the neck shaping, so I am going to look for an errata page before that--could just be me, but....I'd rather not have to redo it) Here's another pic with a 12 inched ruler to help give you a better idea of the size:

I'm enjoying the yarn it's very soft! Knox thinks so too, she keeps wanting to be on my lap and "kneed" my sweater (YIKES!) She will start off in a very safe place on my lap and then try to sneak a paw onto my sweater, so I've been watching her like a hawk :) Socks don't have the same appeal to her I guess. On other cat news---we found out Knox likes to "straighten" pictures! We have a picture above our couch and it kept getting crocked! Saturday night DH found her perched on top of the couch "straightening" the picture!

Flashback Friday!

Thanks everyone for your input about which baby blanket to make! If you haven't voted see at the top right there is a poll so your opinion can count! I'm looking forward to starting it!
My sweater has been coming along well, but not much to show. I'm getting close to shaping the armholes! I'll post a pic on Monday. I don't have any grand hope to make much progress this weekend. We have a AMS region math conference here at LSU this weekend! There should be lots of super talks and I'm really looking forward to it, but....little else will get done. Somehow how I just don't feel right knitting during those talks, it seems rude and I should pay attention!
So some older knitting projects: (kindly submitted by my sister-in-law):

They were a birthday gift (although I had to take them back and lengthen them because they were too short---I'm getting better at making socks long enough). It seems I always have to make them longer than the pattern says! They are Embossed Leaves from Favorite Socks. I used US 2 dpn and yarn my sister-in-law gifted to me!!! She is so good to me! She went to New Zealand last summer and brought me back yarn to make 2 pairs of socks :) (I forgot to look up the ball band before I came to work today--if you're interested let me know and I will try to find it) The pattern was super and so quick to knit!
Enjoy your weekend! I'll be listening to math talks :)

My DH said....

....make a poll! My DH is so supportive of my crafting habits. He rarely complains about the mess or expense or the vast amount of time I devote to my "projects." He also patiently listens to me debate what to make, you know questions like...which socks do you think they would like more? Should I used this yarn or this one? which color? So this weekend when I asked:

Do I make this afghan?:

Option 1

or this one?:

Option 2

His response was make a poll and let you all decide! He went on to say that he thought option 2 might be more practical. (of course I was leaning towards option 1) This is for our pastor's baby. They aren't going to find out if it is a boy or girl, so either one would be white. I scored some yarn at Michael's on Saturday (I used that 30% off coupon I told you about) It is Bernat Softee in white. I've never used it before, but it looks soft and it's washable, so we should be in good shape for baby items.

I know this is the first crochet project I've mentioned (both proposed projects are crochet) and maybe you all thought I was just a knitter. Although I learned to knit when I was little (from Grandma) I also learned to crochet (from Grandma too!) For whatever reason, crochet seemed to stick with me better. It wasn't until 2 years ago that I really started knitting. I think in general I prefer knitting, but some projects are more suited to crochetting and I don't mind that at all--crochet doilies are fun, especially when it's hot here and crochet doesn't roll on you like knitting can. Also, if my hands get tired of knitting, switching to a crochet project can be good because it uses different repetitive actions. Anyway, I'm going to crochet this baby blanket and would appreciate you voting in my poll to help my decide. So please go to the side there and vote, help me!

Sweater news: 12 inches and growing :)

Promised Sweater Pics

Do you check your gauge? I must admit I hate checking gauge. It feels like such wasted time and feels like going to the dentist. So as a general rule I just wing it, but.....we've talked about this sweater, so....I checked my gauge.

On the first try I was close. 23 stitches by 32 rows instead of 22 by 30. My initial response was close enough. Then I did the math (haha) and realized that being one stitch off would amount to 2 inches in the final product YIKES! (I wasn't worried at all by the 32 rows) Now if I were good and did things just the way I should, I would knit another gauge swatch using the next size up, but come on, I did it once....so I just went up one size and started. (this may prove to be a crucial mistake, but I hope not)


I did notice that the yarn shows my stitch imperfections big time--who knew I had imperfections in my stitches? alpaca does, that's who! So I blocked the swatch (I did this before I measured it too) and blocking isn't my favorite, but it was so worth it! All the stitches lined up and the fabric felt so light, I can't wait to wear it! (see all those stitches looking so happy--the color is more acurate in the first pic without the flash)

So I've started the back...I think I've done about 9 inches. The yarn is really soft, but I have found where one ply is broken occasionally in the yarn and a knot or two in the skein, but I'm not complaining. I just make sure to check the yarn for a row before I start the row (did that make sense) so I'll keep you posted on the sweater, but fair warning it could take a while.

On another note, my dear mom found this awesome new tea! Blueberry Green Tea by Republic of Tea. It is good for you and tastes wonderful. The blueberry adds a nice sweetness without being overpowering! Enjoy your day while I enjoy my tea!

I'm back!

Sorry for the long absence. I had planned on posting over spring break more, but instead I just enjoyed my break! It was super! I got to sleep in, knit, relax, and hang out with DH. Now I'm excited to go back to math world and work hard on my research! So what have I been knitting? Well I finished my Monkey socks by Cookie A! I'm super pleased with them! They are using Knitpicks Essential yarn in Lily Pad with US 1 dpn. (for an undisclosed recipient)

In other news, I hope you all had a fantastic Easter and enjoyed celebrating the resurrection of our Lord! It was a great time to remember the sacrifice Jesus made for anyone willing to take it. (I did miss my dad's Easter Egg hunt---he always hid eggs so well and my brothers and I took our Easter egg hunt very seriously not to mention the Easter baskets mom always had at our door when we would wake up)

Tomorrow look for pics on the sweater!

No Second Sock Syndrome (SSS) here!

Yesterday I finished the first Monkey sock :) Yeah! and immediately cast on for the second! My DH is very understanding even supporting of my knitting/crocheting habit, but I don't think he would react favorably to a great number of WIPs let alone single socks! So I try to stay focused as best I can.

We're on Spring Break! Yeah! But it's Monday and I'm at school *sigh* Hopefully I can get my work done and enjoy some knitting days this week! I can't wait to start my sweater! Plus Michael's has a 30% of coupon for your entire purchase this Saturday, so I may go buy the yarn for pastor's baby blanket!

Saturday we went to the St. Patrick's Day Parade with my advisor, her husband, and baby! What fun! It was baby's first parade and she enjoyed herself, plus I got some baby time! Not having yet started my family (school seems to be preventing this) I don't pass up the opportunity to have baby time! Now I'm off to do my work and get a passport :)

Happy Pi Day!

Warning****small math digression**** Being March 14th, I can't in good conscience forget to say happy Pi day!!! A day we celebrate the number pi! (not pie) So what is pi? pi=(circumference of circle)/(diameter of circle) . Where circumference is the distance around the outside of a circle and the diameter is the distance across the widest part of the circle. Turns out it is approximately 3.14..... (haha March 14th) It is an irrational number (it can't be written as a nice fraction) and a transcendental number (not the root of a polynomial in rational coefficients---okay if you aren't a math person I realize this one doesn't make sense) So make sure to at least appreciate math today! ****end digression****

So I've been making good progress on my sock! I've turned the heel and finished the gussett! So in no time it will be done. I'm liking the yarn and enjoying this knit! Of course Knox wanted in on the picture! (Right after this she tried to chew my needles---sometimes she starts thinking she rules the house)

Have a super weekend!